Desperatly trying to pin it on the left...

Wizbang is one of those right-leaning blogs which I don't mind reading.  For the most part, while I disagree with the authors over there, they are at least considerate and articulate, rising above the overly-snarky righty superiority complex that too many of those blogs suffer from (*cough* Powerline *cough*).  Also, they had the good sense to nominate SRWU for a weblog award last year.

Today, they recounted this tragic story out of Louden County, Virginia, in which a mother tried to drown her two small children.  The post is very respectful to the tragic events, and is colored with a sense of sorrow that so often happens when one of these stories (the kind that seem to happen every day) for whatever reason pulls at our heartstrings.  There is even a personal note at the end, indicating some distant personal connections to the community and its tragedy.

Which is why I don't understand the title: "Desperate Housewife Attempts Drowning, Suicide."  Why would you try to be cute with a story like this, especially when you express real feelings of sadness in and no sarcasm at all in your post?

Perhaps I'm being a bit reactionary, but is Kevin trying to make some connection between the show (which only a few months ago was the subject of a national debate on sexuality, race, and degradation in pop culture)?  Is this another righty attempt to connect to score points off of this story by trying to connect a woman trying to drown her children to the "fall of civilization" because of mainstream mass media?

I like not to think so, and Kevin's post is certainly thoughtful, as I've said, but I'm hard pressed to come up with any other reasoning.  Go read his post and then tell me what you think.

UPDATE:  Kevin Aylward of Wizbang, who wrote post left this in the comments:

Hey I'm open to suggestions. That was probably a little to tabloidish a title, but for the life of me the only other headline I could come up with was "Scarred For Life," which didn't make as much sense...

You put way more thought into deconstucting the possible meanings behind it than I did into writing it. After the story was written the empty title box was staring me down, knowing I couldn't hit "publish" until I filled it. I had the second half of the title in mind from other stories on the incident. The Desperate Housewife part seemed to fit the idea of making it less of a local story for the blogosphere. In hindsight, "Virginia Mom Attempts Drowning, Suicide" would have been the best choice.

Since I've always appreciated Kevin's point of view over there at Wizbang, I'd hoped this would be the case.  I appreciate him coming and commenting to that effect.

Comments

[Kevin]

Hey I'm open to suggestions. That was probably a little to tabloidish a title, but for the life of me the only other headline I could come up with was "Scarred For Life," which didn't make as much sense...

You put way more thought into deconstucting the possible meanings behind it than I did into writing it. After the story was written the empty title box was staring me down, knowing I couldn't hit "publish" until I filled it. I had the second half of the title in mind from other stories on the incident. The Desperate Housewife part seemed to fit the idea of making it less of a local story for the blogosphere. In hindsight, "Virginia Mom Attempts Drowning, Suicide" would have been the best choice.

[Dylan]

Thanks, Kevin. As I said, I'd like to think that you weren't trying to take a potshot, because of the tone the post itself. I appreciate you clearing it up...

[Jay Tea]

I'm going to echo Kevin here. (Never a bad idea to agree with the boss.) There have been many times when I've written paragraph after paragraph of a piece, going on and on, and yet that little blank box marked "Title" has sat there mocking me. Sometimes the title comes to me first, and I just run like hell with it; other times, a posting will sit there for 15 or 20 minutes while I bounce around the 'net, letting my subconscious try to find just the right title.

Sometimes, I'll just toss up SOMETHING that seems right at the time. And sometimes, right after I post a piece with a crappy title, the PERFECT title will come to me.

To wit, this piece: http://wizbangblog.com/archives/005030.php

My short answer: don't read too much into the titles. Sometimes we just can't come up with a better one, but don't want to sit on the posting any longer.

J.

[Bostonian]

Speaking of titles, what's up with this title. "Desperately trying to pin it on the left"?

I didn't notice any jabs at the left. I didn't see anything remotely political in it.

I think this blog is desperate for readers.

[Dylan]

I assumed it would be pretty obvious, especially to people who have read my blog before and know my style, that this was a play off of Kevin's title, written in the same style...

Perhaps it would have been a little clearer if I'd put a question mark at the end of it, but I'll stick with it. Thanks for the comment.

[Andrew]

Oh Dylan, you don't have to be nice to Bostonian. He/she is a regular Wizbang reader who assumed that a trackback indicated a homogenity of opinion, and only stopped by quick enough to realize you're on the wrong side (of the tracks, so to speak).

After all, being so desperate for readers, what would you expect, but to get a few visits from people who don't always follow your sense of humor?